George h



(NOMOM') G. H. BARNBST.

TOBAGO() GUTTER.

,096. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. EARNEST, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO AUGUST HIBSOHMAN AND CHARLES W. MORRIS, OF SAME PLACE. p

TOBACCO-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,096, dated September 9, 1890.Y

Application iiled April 7, 1890. Serial No. 346,844.. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. EAENEST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tobacco-cutters, the object of my invention xo being to provide a tobacco-cutter of simple and novel construction, the cutting-knife of which shall be entirely free and exposed at one end, leaving an open jaw or mouth into which the tobacco may be inserted while cutting.

My invention consists in the various constructions, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is zo a side elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a portion of the same. Fig is a detailed view, enlarged, showing a portion of the knife and the manner of fastening and adjusting the same. Fig. 4. is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of some of the parts in detail.

Like parts are representedby similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

3o In the drawings, A A represents the base, which is preferably cast of metal, hollow or recessed on its under side, and provided with an upwardly-extending lug A', a transverse guiding-strip a, and a longitudinal depres- 3 5 sion or recess a.

Projecting upwardly from the base A, and preferably made separable therefrom and con- -nected thereto is a vertical supporting and guiding bar B. This guiding-bar B may, if

4o desired, be cast or formed integral with the base A A, though, as before stated, it is preferably made separate therefrom and adapted to t into an opening or socket in said base between projecting flanges a2 a2 on the under side of said base, the said bar being provided with a projecting flange b, adapted to rest against said base, the said bar being held firmly in position by keys or pins b b', driven through said bar and against the web or bot- 5o tom of said base, as shown.

C is the knife-supporting arm, which is formed at one end with a box or sleeve C', adapted to surround the bar B and reciprocate thereon. .This arm C is provided with a downwardly-projecting wing or flange o, a laterally-proj ecting shoulder c', and laterally` projecting lugs c2, joining said iiange or shoulder c. The knife D is secured to the projecting iiange c by small fastening-screws c3, which pass through slotted openings d in said 6o knife.

Extending downwardly through the projecting lugs c2, and adapted to bear against the top edge of the knife D, are adjustingscrews c5.

Pivoted to the lug A is the handle E, which is preferably curved outwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. l, and is provided with a forwardly-projecting extension E which is arranged at the side of and in close 7o proximity to the sleeve O.

On the sleeve O are two projecting lugs e and e', one of said lugs being arranged on one side of the projection E and theother lug on the other side. Each of these lugs on the side next to the projection E is provided with beveled faces e2 e2, adapted as the lever is moved in either direction to come in contact with the said projection E on the opposite sides thereof. It will be seen now, that as the 8o lever E is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines the knife D will be forced downwardly against the base A A, the arm C sliding on the guiding-bar B. By the peculiar arrangement of the lugs e and e the lever E will be stopped in either direction by the projection E coming against the beveled faces of the said lugs, as shown in one position in Fig. 1, and indicated in dotted lines in the other position. 9o

In the recess a', which is immediately under the knife D, I place a strip of soft material-such as leather, wood, or, if desired, soft metal-against which the knife is adapted to descend. l

A table-clamp F is provided on the under side of the base A, by means of which the de- Vvice may be secured to a table or counter in convenient position for operation, the lever E extending downwardly at the side of said roo counter.

In the operation of the device the tobacco to be cut is placed under the knife D, across the recess a', with the side resting against the strip a. The open mouth or jaw formed by supporting the knife at one end only permits the tobacco to be inserted readily in position from the front or either side. When in position, the lever E is raised, as indicated by dotted lines, Vthe knife is forced downwardly and the tobacco severed.

In using the cutter the operator stands at the rear of the device and can see at once the exact position of the tobacco with reference to the knife, so thatthe plug may be severedV at any point with accuracy and ease. It should be noted that the knife D is fastened to the knife-arm C, against the downwardly-proj ect-- ing flange c, with the top edge thereof resting in contact with or immediately under the iiange orshoulder c', the adj usting-screws c5 bearing against the top of said knife, which, together with the slotted openings D, furnish the means for adjusting said knife, as desired, to bring the cutting edge in line with the top of the base or cutting-block. The fastening screws furnish the means for securing the knife in any desired Aposition of adjustment, while the adj usting-screws bearing against the top of the knife hold said knife firmlyagainst the thrust of the cut.

It is obvious that modifications of the device may be readily employed. The handle,

instead of being arranged so that an upward movement produces a downward movement of the knife, may be connected to said knife so that the opposite will be accomplished-fi. e., a downward movement of the handle will produce a downward movement of the knife in a well-known manner-the connections being modified to accomplish this result.

Other m echanicalchanges may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. I do not therefore limit myself to the exact constructions set forth; but

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination,with the base, `of the lever pivoted thereon, a reciprocating knife-arm and a guide therefor, the inclined engaginglugs on said arm, and an extended portion on said lever runningbetween said lugs, the said lugs being so arranged as to form a stop for said lever in either direction and at the same time furnish means for operatin g said arm by a movement of said lever, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a base and avertical guiding and supportingbar thereon, of a reciprocating knife-arm having a sleeve embracing said bar provided with lugs, a supporting-lug on said base, a lever pivoted to said supporting-lug, said lever being curved outwardly and downwardly, as described, an extended portion on said lever engaging the lugs on said sleeve adapted to be engaged by said extended portion, and stop-faces on said lugs adapted to come in contact with said extended portion on opposite sides thereof when the knife-arm is moved to the limit in either direction, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a reciprocating knife-arm provided with lugs and having a bearing on avertical guiding and supporting bar, of a knife adj ustably securedto said knifearm, a reciprocating lever pivoted to the same base which supports said guiding-bar, said lever having an extended portion adapted-to engage with the lugs on said knife-arm to produce a downward movement of the same by an upward movement of said lever, and stopfaces on said lugs to limit the movement of said handle in either direction, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of April, A. D. 1890.

i GEORGE H. EARNEST. W'itnesses:

D. F. GRAHAM, C. I. WELCH. 

